Pasadena Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum showing a statue or sculpture
Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum featuring a statue or sculpture
Pasadena

With remarkable museums and art galleries, this Californian city is known as one of the cultural centres of the San Gabriel Valley.

Pasadena has many cultural and scientific institutions, including the renowned California Institute of Technology. This city is an important hub of creative and historic life in California. Visit well-known museums, art galleries and city landmarks.

Stop at the Norton Simon Museum, a famous art center featuring European paintings, Asian artworks and sculpture gardens. Explore Old Pasadena, with one of the first modern art museums in the United States. Take an architectural walking tour and admire some of Old Town’s historic buildings.

Old Pasadena, the significant center of Pasadena, has some of the best shopping and entertainment in Southern California, with over 200 one-of-a-kind shops. Dine in award-winning restaurants and charming sidewalk cafés. Shop for antiques, boutique fashions, vintage items and fresh produce.

Admire masterpieces of modern art in the Pasadena Museum of California Art. See ongoing exhibits of expressionist and contemporary art. This museum preserves the artistic and cultural history of California through painting, graphic design, photography and architecture.

In San Marino, the affluent community about 10 minutes’ drive to the southeast from Pasadena, tour the Huntington Library and Gardens, an educational and research institution that features 12 gardens with over 15,000 plant species. Admire European art from the 15th to the 20th century and American art from the 17th to the 20th century. The Huntington Library is one of the largest research libraries in the world, with over 9 million items, including rare books, manuscripts and photographs.

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium is an outdoor athletic arena built in the 1920s. This site is regarded as one of the most famous arenas in sporting history and has hosted five Super Bowl games. Watch a sporting event or attend one of the Rose Bowl Flea Markets on the second Sunday of each month.

Pasadena is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Los Angeles International Airport. Alternatively, fly into Bob Hope Airport about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Pasadena.

Pasadena is the perfect city to appreciate California’s cultural and artistic history.

Where to stay in Pasadena

Old Pasadena

Old Pasadena

4/5(3 area reviews)

If you're in Old Pasadena, take some time to enjoy the ample dining options. Consider stopping by 39 Raymond, and you can hop on the metro at Del Mar Station to see more of the area.

Old Pasadena
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North Central

While North Central may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Rose Bowl Stadium and Pasadena City Hall.

North Central
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North Arroyo

While visiting North Arroyo, you might make a stop by sights like Rose Bowl Stadium and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

North Arroyo
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South Arroyo

While visiting South Arroyo, you might make a stop by sights like Norton Simon Museum and Colorado Street Bridge.

South Arroyo
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Lamanda Park

3/5(1 area review)

When in Lamanda Park, you can plan a visit to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and Pasadena Playhouse, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Lamanda Park
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Playhouse Village

If you're spending some time in Playhouse Village, Pasadena Playhouse and Pasadena Museum of California Art are top sights worth seeing.

Playhouse Village
Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles
Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles
5 out of 5
1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA
The price is ฿11,450 per night from 26 May to 27 May
฿11,450
฿14,966 total
26 May - 27 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Pasadena. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,006 reviews)
"Overall good hotel. Room a bit old. Soundproof badly."

Reviewed on 7 May 2025

Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles
4 out of 5
404 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA
The price is ฿5,319 per night from 1 Jun to 2 Jun
฿5,319
฿6,180 total
1 Jun - 2 Jun
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,545 reviews)
"Design classic. Atlanta Records, no less."

Reviewed on 6 May 2025

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown
4 out of 5
361 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA
The price is ฿4,039 per night from 26 May to 27 May
฿4,039
฿4,693 total
26 May - 27 May
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,210 reviews)
"Excellent property for the cost. Very modern and futuristic. Would definitely recommend."

Reviewed on 9 May 2025

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
3 out of 5
219 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (585 reviews)
"Very clean and functional"

Reviewed on 28 Apr 2025

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Casas On Cordova Street
Casas On Cordova Street
2 out of 5
1864 Cordova St, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live are ...
"It was great, felt very secure with the gate and the door to the building being locked at all times. When we first arrived, we didn’t like the layout of"

Reviewed on 6 May 2025

Casas On Cordova Street
The Crescent powered by Sonder
The Crescent powered by Sonder
4 out of 5
403 N Crescent Dr, Beverly Hills, CA
Stay at this 4-star boutique condo in Beverly Hills. Enjoy valet parking (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk and concierge services. Our guests praise the helpful ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,092 reviews)
"This is an older, historic property. There were some spiders and some stains on the furniture. The rooms were very small, and the bathroom smaller. Perk is I wasn’t in the room much, and this is walking distance to all that Beverly Hills has to offer."

Reviewed on 1 May 2025

The Crescent powered by Sonder
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Pasadena

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
6
5 - Excellent 55%
4 - Good
5
4 - Good 45%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Nice, clean place.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely place. Friendly people. Very scenic

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

has real character

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Everyone so pleasant and area clean and safe to walk highly recommended hotel and area

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Plenty to do and see but you will need a car

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Pasadena is beautiful. Lots to do. A very safe area were you can leave the car and walk about . Plenty of dining and shopping close by. The rose bowl is a short drive.we found it a very friendly area.

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